Andrew Clements’ recently released sequel to one of the most universally beloved middle grade novels ever published is “The Frindle Files.” “Frindle” has been read, studied, and thoroughly enjoyed by millions of young readers since its 1996 publication. And this sequel, published five years after Clements’ death, stands on its own as a worthy, fine, and funny continuation of its unique predecessor.

For those who have never read “Frindle,” a quick plot review here will suffice. In that novel, an imaginative and precocious fifth grade student named Nick Allen was wondering how new words enter our language. After an explanation is provided by his teacher, Mrs. Granger, Nick happens to find a gold pen lying on the ground, and it strikes him that it would be fascinating to see what would happen if the word “pen” were replaced by another word for that object. He comes up with the word “frindle,” and his “invention” of the new word shockingly takes hold, and eventually, despite the objections of Mrs. Granger and other official-type people, becomes a nation-wide phenomenon, and Nick becomes famous. That is the basic plot, and a generation later, “The Frindle Files” takes over and continues the story.

Now, the protagonist is Josh Willett, a sixth-grader with an ELA (English) teacher who bugs Josh plenty. Josh, like his protagonist predecessor, Nick Allen, is a rogue-ish, rather innocently rebellious, very smart but not yet very wise, young man who likes to challenge the “establishment.” He’s a coding fanatic who loves his laptop and cherishes everything he creates and accomplishes with it. But he, too, rebels against a teacher who doesn’t countenance any straying from classical principles. The teacher is Mr. N, who does not allow laptops in his class, insists that all homework and essay assignments be written out by hand with blue or black ink, follows the rules for writing in “The Elements of Style,” the famous text written by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White (author of “Charlotte’s Web”), and on top of all that, wears silly Hawaiian shirts to class and launches into crazy dances for no apparent reason. Mr. N represents the first mystery of the novel. Who is he, really? Why is he so nuts? Why does he hate computers? Why is he stuck in the tradition of a boring writing and grammar text written many years earlier? What’s WITH this guy?

After all those detailed descriptions of Josh and Mr. N, Clements presents us with the first and most significant motivating event of the plot. Josh needs a pen for one of Mr. N’s writing assignments, and he finds one in a drawer in his mom’s room. But on the pen is written the word “frindle.” Puzzling. Josh asks his mom what the heck that means, and she gives him a short accounting of the “frindle” story. It was all the rage when she was in school, she explains. Josh’s natural curiosity takes over and overtakes him, and he begins a Google search for the real background and story of “frindle.” He reads about Nick Allen and sees a picture of the boy. Nick looks mystifyingly familiar to him. Then he happens to see a picture of Mr. N. Holy cow! Mr. N looks like a grown-up version of Nick. Uh-oh. Mr. N is Allen Nicholas. The frindle creator was Nicholas Allen. And the fun begins.

After a series of manipulations, mysteries, strategic moves and methods, and a bit of madness, Josh learns all about the secrets of Mr. N and the wonders of “frindle.” And he also learns a lot about himself. About the related dangers of trusting first impressions and taking them as reality. About the dangers of judging a book (particularly an ebook) by its cover. About the mysteries and enigmas of human nature itself and about the beauty of generosity of spirit, understanding, empathy, and true self-realization.

“The Frindle Files” is a terrific read for kids and can serve as a series of important moral and ethical lessons and guides for all of us of every age. It’s still another testament to the talent and wisdom of the great Andrew Clements.

REVIEW BY JACK KRAMER.

Please note: This review is based on the final, hardcover book provided by Random House Kids, the publisher, for review purposes.